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Uzbekistan won't be laying down says Kennedy

Striker Josh Kennedy says Uzbekistan will not be laying down and will provide a tough contest for the Socceroos next Wednesday night at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Striker Josh Kennedy says Uzbekistan will not be laying down and will provide a tough contest for the Socceroos next Wednesday night at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Kennedy acknowledges that despite the big difference on the points table between the two teams, if Australia is not switched on, Uzbekistan will give us a real fight and be gunning for the win they will so desperately crave to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

“They are going to come here and give everything,” Kennedy said, from the official launch of the partnership between the FFA and Schweppes, as a new major sponsor of football in the country.

“I can-t see them coming here and just laying down and letting us win. It-s a big game for everyone and it-s definitely a very important game.”

“It-s a massive chance for us, if we can get the three points we are just about there.

“However in saying that, Uzbekistan are going to come at us; it-s a big game for them as well, playing against Australia in Australia in front of big crowd.

“So we are going to have to be there physically and mentally and give everything.”

The camp has come at just the right time for Kennedy, who is going through a tough time at his German club Karlsruhe, where he has been frozen out of the first team for some time.

But Kennedy is hopeful the change of surrounds will do him the world of good and that he can still play an important role in the game.

“It-s always good to be in camp, especially in Australia with the nice weather; it-s a good feeling,” he said with a big smile.

“Obviously it-s not easy (at Karlsruhe). You are overseas to play football and I am not playing, so it-s quite difficult.

“It-s just one of those times, you take it in your stride, learn from it and things will turn around.”

“No doubt I will talk to Pim during the week and if I can get a good week-s training behind me, we-ll see how he wants to play; what formation; what tactics and we-ll take it from there.

“If we get the result, we get it and that-s the main thing.”

Kennedy is hopeful that a big crowd will be on hand to get behind the team.

“I-ve heard there is about 50,000 tickets already sold, so the more (people), it obviously gives us better support and they get behind us and we-ll get the job done.”

To purchase your tickets, go to www.ticketek.com.au or phone on 132 849 or they can be purchased from all Ticketek outlets.

*ANZ Stadium referred to original name of Stadium Australia, due to rules of Asian Football Confederation.